Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colin Campbell
Arms of Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and Lord of Lorne (from c.1470)
Born	ca. 1433
Died	10 May 1493
Title	Earl of Argyll
Tenure	1457 – 10 May 1493
Other titles	Lord Lorne 2nd Lord Campbell
Nationality	Scottish
Residence	Castle Campbell
Spouse(s)	Isabel Stewart
Issue	Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll Hon. Thomas Campbell Margaret Campbell, Lady Seton Isabel Campbell-Drummond Helen Campbell, Countess of Eglinton Elizabeth Campbell, Lady Oliphant Mary Campbell-MacDonald Agnes Campbell Catharine Campbell-MacLeod
Parents	Archibald Campbell, Master of Campbell Elizabeth Somerville
← Predecessor Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell Successor Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll →

Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (born around 1433 – died May 10, 1493) was a very important Scottish nobleman and politician during the Middle Ages. He was the son of Archibald Campbell and Elizabeth Somerville. People often called him Colin Mulle, which meant "Bold Earl Colin."

Who Was Colin Campbell?

Colin Campbell's father, Archibald Campbell, passed away in 1440. This meant young Colin became the heir to his grandfather, Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell. When his grandfather died in 1453, Colin became the 2nd Lord Campbell.

Because Colin was still young, his uncle, Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, looked after him. In 1457, King James II of Scotland made him the Earl of Argyll. The King was very thankful for Colin's family's loyalty. In 1460, Colin was given a job as a 'Bailie' (a type of local official) in Cowal.

His uncle also arranged for Colin to marry Isabella Stewart. She was the daughter of John Stewart, Lord Lorne. Through this marriage, Colin received Castle Gloom. He later changed its name to "Castle Campbell" in February 1490. This castle then became a very important home for the Earls of Argyll for the next two centuries.

The exact date of their marriage is not known. But around 1460, Colin had to help solve a family problem. A man named Allan MacDougall had captured his own older brother, John Ker, to take his land. Colin arrived with many war boats and completely defeated MacDougall. He rescued John Ker and helped him get his land back.

Colin's Important Roles for King James III

Colin Campbell was often sent on important trips to talk with other countries. His first trip was in 1463. King James III of Scotland sent him to make a truce (a peace agreement) with King Edward IV of England. A main part of the agreement was that neither king would help the other's enemies.

In 1464, Campbell became the master of the King's household. This was a very important job. In 1465, he was made Lord Justiciary of Scotland. This meant he was a top judge. He held this job with another nobleman, Robert Boyd. When Boyd had problems with the King and left Scotland in 1469, Colin held the position alone.

Because of his marriage to Isabel Stewart, Colin also gained the title Lord Lorne in 1469. This title had belonged to his wife's uncle, John Stewart. In exchange, Colin gave Stewart other lands. Colin then added the symbol of a galley (a type of ship) from the Lorne family's heraldry to his own family crest.

In 1471, he received the jobs of Justiciary and Sheriff for the Lorne area. These jobs could be passed down in his family. On January 15, 1472, King James III gave Dunoon Castle to Colin and his family. This included the power to appoint people like constables and jailers for the castle.

In 1474, Colin was again sent to talk with King Edward IV about problems with the truce. A marriage was planned between Scotland's Prince James and England's Princess Cecily. However, this marriage did not happen because the two countries continued to have disagreements.

In 1475, King James III was trying to take land from John of Islay, Earl of Ross. Colin was given the job to carry out this task. In 1479, he was confirmed in his roles as Lieutenant and Commissary of Argyll. His family had held these important positions since 1382.

Colin received even more favors in 1480. The King gave him a large area of land called Knapdale, including the care of Castle Sween. He received this land for a very small, symbolic rent. This land had once belonged to the Earl of Ross.

In early 1483, King James III made Colin Campbell the Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. This was the highest government job in Scotland. He also received more land. This was likely because Colin stayed loyal to the King during a difficult time when some nobles rebelled.

In 1484, Colin was very busy with diplomatic work. In July, he went to Paris to renew an old alliance between France and Scotland. Then, in September, he was part of a group that met with King Richard III of England to make peace. This treaty was supposed to last until 1487. Another marriage was planned to keep the peace, but it also did not happen.

Challenges and Later Years

Colin Campbell joined the nobles who rebelled against King James III in 1487. Around this time, the King removed Colin from his job as Chancellor. In 1488, Colin was not at the Battle of Sauchieburn. He was in England, sent by Prince James and the rebels to ask for English help against King James III.

After Prince James became King James IV of Scotland, he gave Colin Campbell back his job as High Chancellor. The new King also gave him the lands of Rosneath in Dunbartonshire in 1490. These lands stayed with the Campbell family for a very long time. Colin continued to be favored by King James IV. In 1491, he helped make sure a truce between England and Scotland was followed.

Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, passed away in 1493. He was buried at Kilmun Parish Church in Cowal Peninsula. His oldest son, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, took over his titles and lands.

Colin's Family

Colin Campbell and his wife, Isabel Stewart, had two sons and seven daughters:

• Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
• Thomas Campbell, whose family became the Campbells of Lundie.
• Margaret Campbell, who married George Seton, Lord Seton.
• Isabel Campbell, who married William Drummond.
• Helen Campbell, who married Hugh Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Eglinton.
• Elizabeth Campbell, who married John Oliphant, 2nd Lord Oliphant.
• Mary Campbell, who married Aonghas MacDonald.
• Agnes Campbell.
• Catharine Campbell, who married Lachlan Og Maclean and later Torquil MacLeod.